Chris Paul and Burning Bright take flight in Badlands Story Hour Ep. 142 with the 1980 comedy classic Airplane! - a film so outrageous, it could never be made today. What begins as a lighthearted review quickly turns into an exploration of censorship, culture, and the evolution of humor. The hosts compare the fearless satire of Airplane!—from racial jokes to religious gags—to the humorless moral policing of modern Hollywood, asking how society went from laughing at itself to fearing offense. They dive into themes of demoralization, monopolies, and media control, drawing parallels between the movie’s chaotic airline setting and the real-life decline of air travel, bureaucracy, and free speech. Alongside sharp analysis, they celebrate the film’s absurdity, its nonstop jokes, slapstick brilliance, and unapologetic energy, while reflecting on how laughter once united people across divides. With trademark wit and philosophical depth, Chris and Burning Bright turn this cult classic into a lesson on comedy, culture, and control.